Canadian rep to Beaumonters: Keystone XL will be approved

Dan Wallac, Beaumont Enterprise

By Dan Wallach

Published 9:35 am, Thursday, July 17, 2014

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell advances the slides in her presentation for the Rotary Club on Wedneday. Caldwell was the speaker for Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting at the MCM Elegante. Caldwell spoke about the energy industry in Canada and how it relates to the economy of Texas.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/16/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX
Photo: Jake Daniels

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell advances the slides in her...

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell, center, is flanked by Vernon Pierce, left, and Mary Poole at the podium Wednesday afternoon. Caldwell was the speaker for Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting at the MCM Elegante. Caldwell spoke about the energy industry in Canada and how it relates to the economy of Texas.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/16/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX
Photo: Jake Daniels

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell, center, is flanked by...

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell smiles as she speaks before the Beaumont Rotary Club on Wednesday. Caldwell was the speaker for Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting at the MCM Elegante. Caldwell spoke about the energy industry in Canada and how it relates to the economy of Texas.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/16/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX
Photo: Jake Daniels

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell smiles as she speaks before...

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell, left, accepts a coffee cup from Beaumont Rotary Club President Vernon Pierce on Wednesday. Caldwell was the speaker for Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting at the MCM Elegante. Caldwell spoke about the energy industry in Canada and how it relates to the economy of Texas.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/16/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX
Photo: Jake Daniels

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell, left, accepts a coffee cup...

Canadian Consul General Paula Caldwell talks after the Rotary Club meeting Wednesday. Caldwell was the speaker for Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting at the MCM Elegante. Caldwell spoke about the energy industry in Canada and how it relates to the economy of Texas.
Photo taken Wednesday 7/16/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX
Photo: Jake Daniels

The pipeline from Canada needs a U.S. permit because it crosses an international border, even though, as Caldwell pointed out, it's the longest undefended border in the world.

The Obama administration has delayed a decision on the permit since before the 2012 election, pending a recommendation from the U.S. Department of State on its environmental impact.

The Keystone XL pipeline would lead from tar sands deposits in the western Canadian province of Alberta to the Midwestern oil hub in Cushing, Okla., ultimately to the Nederland terminal of Sun Oil. One of its major customers would be the Valero Energy refinery in Port Arthur, Caldwell said.

The Keystone pipeline segment from Cushing to Nederland was completed earlier this year.

That segment has a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day. The XL segment could increase the amount flowing into Southeast Texas by an additional 100,000 barrels per day.

Caldwell said the XL segment is in the U.S.'s national interest, and she said the State Department has called it the best option.

If the Obama administration were to approve it this year, work could begin quickly by the builder, Trans-Canada, and delivery of oil could be possible by 2016.